Uniondale, NY (My Sportsbook) - Two clubs in search of their first wins clash tonight when the
New York Islanders host the
Nashville Predators at Nassau Coliseum.
New York has dropped decisions to Buffalo and Washington thus far, getting off to the opposite start of last season. In 2001 the Isles used a 9-0-1-1 month of October as a springboard to their first playoff berth since 1994.
The Islanders haven't been 0-2 since the 1998-99 season, and they avoided a third straight defeat. The same situation occurred in 1993-94, and the club has never got off to an 0-3 start in its history.
The Isles have scored just two goals in dropping decisions of 5-1 and 2-1 to the Sabres and Capitals, respectively. On Saturday against Washington at home, New York held a 36-14 shots advantage on the night, but Alexei Yashin's power- play tally in the first period was all the offense that made its way to the scoreboard.
Washington tied the score late in the second and it remained deadlocked until 15:24 into the third when Jaromir Jagr redirected a shot past goaltender Chris Osgood. Osgood finished with a mere 12 saves in the losing effort.
New York heads out on a brief road trip after tonight, beginning Thursday in Philadelphia. The Isles also visit Atlanta. Philadelphia. The Isles also visit Atlanta.
Nashville, meanwhile, opens a three-game trek of its own on the heels of losses to Washington and Edmonton, including Saturday's 3-2 home setback to the Oilers. David Legwand and Cale Hulse scored second-period goals to bring the Preds back from a 2-0 deficit, but Edmonton's Mike Comrie scored on a breakaway midway through the third to provide the difference.
Nashville goaltender Mike Dunham turned aside 24 shots in the losing cause.
The Predators are 0-2 for the first time since 1999-2000, and have never began a campaign with three straight losses.
Nashville takes in the entire New York area during this road trip, also visiting the Devils on Friday and the Rangers the next night.
The Isles defeated the Preds, 5-2, in Nashville last April and have won two straight meetings in the series.
